Top Chicago Tips - Your Insider Tips for Chicago

Home to a stunning skyline and a huge variety of attractions, Chicago truly is one of the great American cities. With so many things to see and do when visiting Chicago, we asked for your top tips for this beautiful city on Lake Michigan over at our Hostelworld.com Facebook page. Here’s what you told us...

Get to know the locals

Kamil Szczepkowski says:

The people are incredibly friendly and patient. When I visited, any time I had questions about the city, the people were more than happy to answer and help me understand what I needed to know. They're the greatest promotion tool Chicago has.

Check out Wrigley Field

Amanda Behney says:

Wrigley Field is the best place in the world.

Virginie Jarosik says:

Steppenwolf Theatre, The Victory Garden theatre... and the Wrigley Field ... forever!

Hostelworld.com says:

Home to the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field is one of the top attractions in Chicago. If you’re visiting the city between April and September, try and catch a baseball game for a real All-American experience. Tours of the ballpark are held on a daily basis so you can have a look inside even if you don’t manage to get to a game.

Location: 1060 W Addison Street.

Enjoy live blues at Kingston Mines

Attracting some of the world’s best blues acts, Kingston Mines is a really popular club hosting live music acts seven nights a week on two different stages. Keep in mind that it fills up quickly, especially on weekends.

Location: 2548 North Halsted Street, Lincoln Park.

Explore Chicago’s numerous neighbourhoods using the ‘L’

Amanda Behney says:

Stay downtown and never rent a car. Take the red line north to the neighbourhoods. Best time to be had in Chicago.

Hostelworld.com says:

Chicago has a great public transport system, primarily in the form of the ‘L’. This is an elevated rapid transit system with trains running throughout the city on a network of eight different lines. The Red Line of the L is one of the busiest of these lines, serving stations at or near some of the city’s most popular attractions including Wrigley Field. Many of Chicago’s unique neighbourhoods including Chinatown and Edgewater can all be reached by using the red line of the L.

Spend an evening at the Metro

Alex Ochoa says:

Live music at Metro.

Hostelworld.com says:

On the go since the 80s, the Metro is a stalwart of Chicago’s legendary live music scene. The bands taking to the stage here are usually of the alt rock or indie persuasion, with shows taking place regularly. A huge number of music greats have performed here including Depeche Mode, Jane’s Addiction, Jeff Buckley, The Killers and many more. Local talent often takes centre stage at the Metro and it’s a great platform for up and coming bands. For the latest listings and to find out what’s going on at the Metro during your visit to Chicago, just check out the venue’s website.

Location: 3730 N. Clark Street.

Try a Chicago-style hot dog

Shalese Maria says:

get a hotdog and walk Lakeshore drive

Hostelworld.com says:

Available from vendors throughout the city, the Chicago-style hot dog is definitely something you should try during your stay. These are a real mouthful, thanks to the wide array of condiments packed into the bun on top of the hot dog wiener. Some of the toppings to expect are tomatoes, diced onions, mustard and a big chunk of pickle. Yum!

Watch the city light up at night

Sarah Lasquibar says:

Go to the top of Lake Point Tower and enjoy a great cocktail at the bar around 5:30-6pm. See the beautiful city of Chicago becoming dark and all sparkling. And don't forget to breathe. Amazing time and definitely a secret address in Chi-town that no one is aware of. Yet. ;)

Hostelworld.com says:

At the top of this skyscraper, you’ll find Cité, a restaurant and bar that’s open to the public. While the menu might be a bit pricey, this spot does provide visitors with spectacular views of the city and out across Lake Michigan.

Location: 505 N. Lake Shore Drive.

Try out any of the following suggestions...

Bill Binder says:

Top tip, dress warm if you're going out at night. It ain't called the Windy City for nothing.

Matthew Frenchie says:

Rush & Division, the best street to party & for the blues bar, Kingston mines is just the best bar ever !!

Sarah Ewing says:

Come in the summer, take the bus up to Lincoln Park Zoo, explore and walk south along the lake front until you reach Millennium Park. Grab some nice cheese from Pastoral and a cheap bottle of wine from the Walgreens, and a seat in Millennium Park by 7:00ish or so for a free concert in the park!

If you’re planning to visit Chicago, hopefully these great Chicago tips will give you some insight into lots of the top Chicago attractions, public transport in Chicago and more.

Home to a stunning skyline and a huge variety of attractions, Chicago truly is one of the great American cities. With so many things to see and do when visiting Chicago, we asked for your top tips for this beautiful city on Lake Michigan over at our Hostelworld.com Facebook page. Here’s what you told us...

Get to know the locals

Kamil Szczepkowski says:

The people are incredibly friendly and patient. When I visited, any time I had questions about the city, the people were more than happy to answer and help me understand what I needed to know. They're the greatest promotion tool Chicago has.

Check out Wrigley Field

Amanda Behney says:

Wrigley Field is the best place in the world.

Virginie Jarosik says:

Steppenwolf Theatre, The Victory Garden theatre... and the Wrigley Field ... forever!

Hostelworld.com says:

Home to the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field is one of the top attractions in Chicago. If you’re visiting the city between April and September, try and catch a baseball game for a real All-American experience. Tours of the ballpark are held on a daily basis so you can have a look inside even if you don’t manage to get to a game.

Location: 1060 W Addison Street.

Enjoy live blues at Kingston Mines

Attracting some of the world’s best blues acts, Kingston Mines is a really popular club hosting live music acts seven nights a week on two different stages. Keep in mind that it fills up quickly, especially on weekends.

Location: 2548 North Halsted Street, Lincoln Park.

Explore Chicago’s numerous neighbourhoods using the ‘L’

Amanda Behney says:

Stay downtown and never rent a car. Take the red line north to the neighbourhoods. Best time to be had in Chicago.

Hostelworld.com says:

Chicago has a great public transport system, primarily in the form of the ‘L’. This is an elevated rapid transit system with trains running throughout the city on a network of eight different lines. The Red Line of the L is one of the busiest of these lines, serving stations at or near some of the city’s most popular attractions including Wrigley Field. Many of Chicago’s unique neighbourhoods including Chinatown and Edgewater can all be reached by using the red line of the L.

Spend an evening at the Metro

Alex Ochoa says:

Live music at Metro.

Hostelworld.com says:

On the go since the 80s, the Metro is a stalwart of Chicago’s legendary live music scene. The bands taking to the stage here are usually of the alt rock or indie persuasion, with shows taking place regularly. A huge number of music greats have performed here including Depeche Mode, Jane’s Addiction, Jeff Buckley, The Killers and many more. Local talent often takes centre stage at the Metro and it’s a great platform for up and coming bands. For the latest listings and to find out what’s going on at the Metro during your visit to Chicago, just check out the venue’s website.

Location: 3730 N. Clark Street.

Try a Chicago-style hot dog

Shalese Maria says:

get a hotdog and walk Lakeshore drive

Hostelworld.com says:

Available from vendors throughout the city, the Chicago-style hot dog is definitely something you should try during your stay. These are a real mouthful, thanks to the wide array of condiments packed into the bun on top of the hot dog wiener. Some of the toppings to expect are tomatoes, diced onions, mustard and a big chunk of pickle. Yum!

Watch the city light up at night

Sarah Lasquibar says:

Go to the top of Lake Point Tower and enjoy a great cocktail at the bar around 5:30-6pm. See the beautiful city of Chicago becoming dark and all sparkling. And don't forget to breathe. Amazing time and definitely a secret address in Chi-town that no one is aware of. Yet. ;)

Hostelworld.com says:

At the top of this skyscraper, you’ll find Cité, a restaurant and bar that’s open to the public. While the menu might be a bit pricey, this spot does provide visitors with spectacular views of the city and out across Lake Michigan.

Location: 505 N. Lake Shore Drive.

Try out any of the following suggestions...

Bill Binder says:

Top tip, dress warm if you're going out at night. It ain't called the Windy City for nothing.

Matthew Frenchie says:

Rush & Division, the best street to party & for the blues bar, Kingston mines is just the best bar ever !!

Sarah Ewing says:

Come in the summer, take the bus up to Lincoln Park Zoo, explore and walk south along the lake front until you reach Millennium Park. Grab some nice cheese from Pastoral and a cheap bottle of wine from the Walgreens, and a seat in Millennium Park by 7:00ish or so for a free concert in the park!

If you’re planning to visit Chicago, hopefully these great Chicago tips will give you some insight into lots of the top Chicago attractions, public transport in Chicago and more.